How To: Replace an alternator

[DMage]

Tools:

13mm box wrench
13mm socket wrench
11mm socket wrench
Adjustable wrench
Helper (bonus)


Steps:

(1) IMPORTANT: Unhook battery. Unhook brown wires attached to alternator.

(2) Remove tension from the bolt holding the alternator to the engine block. This bolt is attached to an 'arm' that is located near the exhaust heat shield.

(3) Using 13mm wrenches, undo the bolt that goes through the bracket attached to the engine block. Its helpful to have an assistant, but its possible to do it on your own using the frame/engine block as leverage and working on the bolt from the rear.

(4) Fully remove the bolt and remove the alternator. Replace, and redo. If you need to change the belt, you will also need to remove the A/C belt. This is done by removing the belt tensioner on the drivers side of the engine.


Stats:

Electrical Knowledge: 2 (out of 10) (can you unhook/unbolt wires?)
Mechanical Knowledge: 2 (out of 10) (do you know what a bolt is?)
Time: 30 minutes

[mike123]

I will expand this a bit, with what my process has been as a pretty new person to all of this stuff:

Steps:


IMPORTANT: Unhook battery.
Remove the nut and slip the brown wires off of the alternator. Now is a good time to clean the ring connectors.
Cut or unattach the very small brown-yellow wire attached to the alternator [Motorola].
Remove tension from the bolt holding the alternator to the engine block. This bolt is attached to an 'arm' that is located near the exhaust heat shield.
Unattach the arm on the alternator side. Remove the arm completely.
Using 13mm wrenches, loosen the 'pivot' bolt that goes through the bracket attached to the engine block. Its helpful to have an assistant, but its possible to do it on your own using the frame/engine block as leverage and working on the bolt from the rear.
Now the alternator should pivot well, even if it was a little corroded in place. Slip the belt off of the alternator pulley.
Fully remove the bolt and remove the alternator.
If you need to change the belt, you will also need to remove the A/C belt. This is done by removing the belt tensioner on the drivers side of the engine.
Clean the bracket that the long alternator bolt goes through. I believe the forward edge of where the bolt goes through is a ground point.
Reverse steps for the new alternator. Be sure to reconnect the little wire(s) that you need for your alternator model.


If using a kit with a spacer, I found it helpful to glue the spacer to the alternator before installing it. This allows you to hold it up in place as essentially one piece when you put the pivot bolt through.